From June 17, 2016 the Center of Electoral Systems Development, Reforms and Training, LEPL (hereinafter - the Training Center) is announcing a grant competition for the following directions to be funded through the grant competition stipulated in the Central Election Commission of Georgia June 14, 2016 Ordinance N 245/2016:
Situation analysis
Supporting the initiatives to ensuring complete awareness of voters through the grant competition is related to October 8, 2015 Parliament of Georgia Elections. One of the directions of the Electoral Administration in the process of preparing for the elections -- the component of raising voter awareness – is based on the results of the electoral process analysis performed by the Election Administration itself, as well as the recommendations of international/local observer missions, evidencing the necessity to conduct regular awareness-raising/educational programs.
Competition is aimed at promoting NGO sector initiatives to support such important objectives as the improvement of social attitude of electorate towards elections, voter education around electoral processes in order to promote raising the level of civic engagement of voters, increase activeness of voters and informed choices by voters, including promoting gender equality policy and the integration of vulnerable groups.
Within the frame of the first direction grant project proposals can be submitted for the following competition topics:
Competition topic: raising voter awareness for the October 8, 2016 Parliament of Georgia elections
Grant project proposals submitted for the above topic shall include the implementation of awareness-raising/training programs, awareness-raising campaigns, programs and/or other activities, aimed at raising electoral awareness of voters, raising civic responsibility and facilitating more active participation of voters in/for the October 8, 2016 Parliament of Georgia Elections. It is important to model awareness-raising/educational programs to be implemented under the project in light with the age and interests of target groups identified for the project. Furthermore, project activities should be directed at promoting gender equality and the organization’s vision and approach as to ensuring gender equality should be reflected in the project.
Grant project duration:
August 7 - October 7, 2016
Scope of the grant project funding:
Not to exceed GEL 30,000 (the funds will be disbursed in stages in accordance with the terms of the contract. The second tranche will be available from October 1, 2016)
Within the frame of the second direction grant project proposals can be submitted for the following competition topics:
Topic I of the second direction: support participation of vulnerable groups in the process of the Parliament of Georgia scheduled October 8, 2016 Elections
To support raising civic activeness of vulnerable groups in the October 8, 2016 Parliament of Georgia Elections, a grant project submitted for the above topic should envisage the initiative of holding an electoral awareness-raising campaign that would be focused on the provision of information to voters about the importance of voters participation in the governance of the country through elections and legislative mechanisms for exercising electoral rights. It is important that the project envisage implementation of awareness-raising/educational activities not only in the format of workshop/training but also via role-play, staged shows or other innovative activities. Furthermore, activities scheduled under the project should be directed at taking into account and promoting gender aspects and the project should spell out an organization’s vision with regard to ensuring that.
Target groups of the project may include at least one of the target groups listed below:
It is important that in case of identification of ethnic minorities and/or PWDs as target groups the project should be implemented in view of the language, cultural/religious barriers and PWD needs.
Grant project duration:
August 7 - October 7, 2016
Scope of the grant project funding:
Not to exceed GEL 30,000 (the funds will be disbursed in stages in accordance with the terms of the contract. The second tranche will be available from October 1, 2016)
Topic II of the second direction: support women participation in the process of the Parliament of Georgia October 8, 2016 Elections
A grant project proposal submitted for the above topic shall incorporate encouragement of women participation in the Parliament of Georgia October 8, 2016 Elections. The project shall be directed at facilitating the realization political and civic rights of women and raising their motivation and more active participation in elections through the implementation of awareness-raising/training programs, awareness-raising campaigns, programs and/or other activities. Project target groups shall be selected based on predefined methodology.
Grant project duration:
August 7 - October 7, 2016
Scope of the grant project funding:
Not to exceed GEL 30,000 (the funds will be disbursed in stages in accordance with the terms of the contract. The second tranche will be available from October 1, 2016)
Additional requirements for grant project proposals to be submitted for the topics of the first and second directions:
Grant projects shall be carried out in one or several regions of Georgia, except for Tbilisi, identified at the applicant's discretion.
To support quality implementation of the grant project, over the course of implementation of activities envisaged under the project, representatives of a funded NGO/individuals involved in the implementation of the grant project should be independent and impartial, avoid any such action that may be perceived as an action in support/against any party or an electoral entity, as well as refrain from including individuals who are electoral subjects for the October 8, 2016 Parliament of Georgia elections at positions involving project implementation. If an NGO fails to follow this requirement, the measures of responsibility envisaged in the Rule for Awarding a Grant will be applied against it.
Additional information about the grant competition
Who is eligible to participate in the grant competition:
Local non-commercial legal entities (hereinafter – NGOs) registered pursuant to Georgia legislation prior to competition announcement are eligible to participate in the competition.
Those NGOs whose officials and/or the individuals envisaged to implement submitted grant project shall not be eligible to participate in the competition if they are either of the following: a member of the Central Election Commission of Georgia; a Head of a structural unit of the CEC Apparatus; a Head, a Deputy Head of the Training Center; Head of a structural unit of the Training Center; a member of a grant competition committee, committee secretariat and monitoring group. NGO officials imply persons having the authority to lead/represent an NGO according to an extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and Non-commercial Legal Entities.
Bid documentation to be submitted for the grant competition:
To participate in the grant competition, an NGO shall submit the following documents as per the indicated rule:
a) Grant application as per the format indicated in the Annex #1 (hard copy and an electronic version (CD); (Available in Georgian)
b) An extract from the Registry of Entrepreneurs and Non-commercial Legal Entities produced after the grant competition announcement (June 17, 2016), that evidences that the NGO does not have the following obligations: distrain/ban, tax lien, debtor’s registry (hard copy version);
c) A hard copy of a notarized constituent document (statute, regulations, etc.) verified according to Georgia legislation.
Note: An NGO is authorized to submit only one grant application under the announced competition to participate in the competition.
Reviewing body:
NGO bid documentation is evaluated, decision on funding/refusal to fund an NGO is taken by a grant competition committee, formed according to the Rule on the Awarding a Grant, in absentia of a representative of an NGO submitting the bid documentation.
Bid evaluation committee members will evaluate bids according to the criteria set forth in the bids evaluation form (See Annex #2 Available in Georgian)
Publicity of Grant Competition results:
Bidders will be informed about competition results by sending a notice to their e-mail address. Information about NGOs funded based on the grant competition committee decision will also be posted at the CEC and the Training Center web pages: www.cesko.ge, www.electionreforms.ge
Grant competition schedule:
The Rule for Awarding a Grant can be found at http://electionreforms.ge/files/article_attachments/grant_1762016/debuleba.pdf (Available in Georgian)
For additional information contact us at: 261 21 11; 599 95 83 83 (Training Center Certification and Project Management Unit)
